Dogs can make great pets. They are often thought of as part of the family. But dogs also bite and these bites cause serious injury and even death. According to the Humane Society, approximately 4.7 million people in the United States are bitten each year, and about 2.8 million of these victims are children under the age of 14. It is important to understand that almost any dog will bite under the right circumstances. Dogs may bite due to fear, to protect their territory or to establish their dominance over the person
being bitten. A dog is an animal that perceives things and behaves differently than humans and can't always be predicted to behave in a certain way, no matter how friendly or reliable his is.

Most dogs, even those that are well-trained, do not consider children as authority figures. Since children often stare intently at animals, a dog may feel threatened by this small person who is trying to grab at him. Even the best-natured dog may bite to protect himself in these circumstances, especially if he feels cornered. Children should never approach a dog that is chained outside and is unattended. Many guard dogs that are constantly tied up can suffer from psychological problems and are downright aggressive.

Children should be taught how to behave around dogs, even if their own family does not own a dog. For example, a child should never approach a strange dog without asking the owner if it's okay to pet the dog. If the child sees a loose dog on the street, he should not approach it even if he knows the dog belongs to his friend. Nor should he scream or run away. These actions can result in an attack by the dog. Running can trigger an instinctive predator-prey response in his brain. Once triggered, this response is very difficult to interrupt. The dog is merely reacting to chemical stimulus, not rational thought.

Very few bites will happen without provocation, even if that provocation
exists only in the dog's mind. Dogs don't think about things the same way we do. They look at the world around them in a different perspective. Most of their actions are instinctive. A dog will react to situations according to what his instincts tell him unless he receives proper training and socialization throughout his life. Dogs instinctively set up an invisible 'fight or flight' boundary around themselves. This is their safety zone. The size of this boundary depends on the dog's level of confidence and tolerance. A fearful dog will give himself a wider area than a more stable one. If the dog perceives someone as a threat or is unwelcome in his area, the dog has